Published: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 16, 2012 at 10:05 a.m.

Bo Ferguson is resigning as Hendersonville’s city manager at the end of the year to take a position as deputy city manager over operations in Durham.

“For almost five years, it has been my pleasure to work for Hendersonville’s citizens, and to enjoy life in the finest city I have ever called home,” Ferguson said in an email. “Our family quickly fell in love with this place and put down roots. We will miss our friends and colleagues, our church, and the schools we send our kids to. This city is a part of us, and we have made many wonderful memories here.”

Ferguson will join City Manager Tom Bonfield at the helm in Durham on Jan. 7. Ferguson is set to lead the city’s Operations Team, a group of departments tasked with delivering traditional governmental services that most directly impact residents on a day-to-day basis.

“Bo’s breadth of experience uniquely made him the best fit for the position,” Bonfield said in a news release. “He has an extensive background in organizational leadership, community and City Council relations, staff development, public participation and involvement, intergovernmental relations, fiscally prudent budget development and management.

“We look forward to Bo joining the city’s management team and to the expertise he will bring to this organization, and ultimately, to this community.”

Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Collis, who was on the council that interviewed and hired Ferguson, said the city will definitely miss him.

“Bo has just been a phenomenal manager. I can’t say enough great things about him,” Collis said. “As a friend I’m very excited for him and his family. It’s just an opportunity that he in no way could have passed up.”

Councilman Ron Stephens agreed that the job offer in Durham is a “wonderful opportunity,” adding that “He has done an outstanding job here and he has an excellent staff. He’s certainly kept City Council involved and informed.”

“The thing about Bo is he understands the importance of the role of local government in an average person’s life,” said Councilman Jerry Smith. “In reality, most government services people receive are from local governments. Bo did an excellent job of taking the concerns of Hendersonville residents as well as county residents to heart in leading them to a bright future.”

Steve Caraker was a newly elected member of the council when he sat in on the final rounds of interviews to find a city manager five years ago. He said that Ferguson impressed him from the beginning.

“Bo was head and shoulders above all the rest of the candidates in my opinion. He had done his homework on Hendersonville and wanted to be part of the community,” Caraker said.

He remembered Ferguson even apologizing during the interview because he was taking notes to prepare for future questions.

“He’s taken a very good staff and improved them. He’s taken some difficult situations and made them manageable,” Caraker added. “I knew when we hired him that he was destined for bigger things. I can see him going real far in his chosen profession.”

Ferguson commended City Council for its work.

“They care about the needs of citizens, are responsive to the business community, and treat each other with a dignity that is rare among today’s elected officials,” he said. “They are professional, unselfish, visionary and focused on the long-term success of our city. They reject petty politics and instead engage in meaningful dialogue, while allowing their staff to carry out our responsibilities with careful oversight but no selfish interference.”

He added that he has also enjoyed working with city staff.

“As a city manager, it is rare to receive more compliments than complaints about your staff, but I can honestly say in my five years that is exactly what I have experienced,” Ferguson said. “Our staff goes the extra mile to serve our citizens, and when problems arise, they look for ways to reach resolutions while still respecting the core responsibilities of government.

“I have learned much from them in my time here, and their excellence will provide Hendersonville’s next manager a strong foundation to build on.”

Ferguson said he’s confident the council will find a city manager who represents those values and that Mayor Barbara Volk is currently exploring options for transitioning to Hendersonville’s next city manager.

“Whoever follows Bo Ferguson has got big shoes to fill. The city is going to be at a loss for a while,” Caraker said. “I hope Durham realizes what they’re getting because they’re getting a star.”

In Durham, Ferguson will oversee about two-thirds of the city’s workforce — 2,200 staff members.

“Managing Hendersonville has been very challenging and extremely rewarding, but this opportunity will obviously bring a very different set of challenges,” Ferguson said. “That chance to push myself and test my abilities ultimately drew me to accept the position. It will be hard work in a complex urban city; I’m excited, but I’m also heartbroken to leave. There is so much that I will miss about living here and serving as Hendersonville’s city manager.”

Ferguson has 16 years of experience in local government management. Prior to working for Hendersonville, he served as assistant town manager and finance officer for the town of Black Mountain; assistant to the city manager in the city of Rockville, Md.; and senior management analyst with the city of Greenbelt, Md.

Ferguson will fill the deputy city manager chair left vacant by Theodore Vorhees, who left Durham to serve as city manager of Fayetteville in August.

<p>Bo Ferguson is resigning as Hendersonville's city manager at the end of the year to take a position as deputy city manager over operations in Durham.</p><p>“For almost five years, it has been my pleasure to work for Hendersonville's citizens, and to enjoy life in the finest city I have ever called home,” Ferguson said in an email. “Our family quickly fell in love with this place and put down roots. We will miss our friends and colleagues, our church, and the schools we send our kids to. This city is a part of us, and we have made many wonderful memories here.” </p><p>Ferguson will join City Manager Tom Bonfield at the helm in Durham on Jan. 7. Ferguson is set to lead the city's Operations Team, a group of departments tasked with delivering traditional governmental services that most directly impact residents on a day-to-day basis.</p><p>“Bo's breadth of experience uniquely made him the best fit for the position,” Bonfield said in a news release. “He has an extensive background in organizational leadership, community and City Council relations, staff development, public participation and involvement, intergovernmental relations, fiscally prudent budget development and management. </p><p>“We look forward to Bo joining the city's management team and to the expertise he will bring to this organization, and ultimately, to this community.”</p><p>Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Collis, who was on the council that interviewed and hired Ferguson, said the city will definitely miss him. </p><p>“Bo has just been a phenomenal manager. I can't say enough great things about him,” Collis said. “As a friend I'm very excited for him and his family. It's just an opportunity that he in no way could have passed up.” </p><p>Councilman Ron Stephens agreed that the job offer in Durham is a “wonderful opportunity,” adding that “He has done an outstanding job here and he has an excellent staff. He's certainly kept City Council involved and informed.” </p><p>“The thing about Bo is he understands the importance of the role of local government in an average person's life,” said Councilman Jerry Smith. “In reality, most government services people receive are from local governments. Bo did an excellent job of taking the concerns of Hendersonville residents as well as county residents to heart in leading them to a bright future.”</p><p>Steve Caraker was a newly elected member of the council when he sat in on the final rounds of interviews to find a city manager five years ago. He said that Ferguson impressed him from the beginning.</p><p>“Bo was head and shoulders above all the rest of the candidates in my opinion. He had done his homework on Hendersonville and wanted to be part of the community,” Caraker said. </p><p>He remembered Ferguson even apologizing during the interview because he was taking notes to prepare for future questions. </p><p>“He's taken a very good staff and improved them. He's taken some difficult situations and made them manageable,” Caraker added. “I knew when we hired him that he was destined for bigger things. I can see him going real far in his chosen profession.”</p><p>Ferguson commended City Council for its work.</p><p>“They care about the needs of citizens, are responsive to the business community, and treat each other with a dignity that is rare among today's elected officials,” he said. “They are professional, unselfish, visionary and focused on the long-term success of our city. They reject petty politics and instead engage in meaningful dialogue, while allowing their staff to carry out our responsibilities with careful oversight but no selfish interference.”</p><p>He added that he has also enjoyed working with city staff.</p><p>“As a city manager, it is rare to receive more compliments than complaints about your staff, but I can honestly say in my five years that is exactly what I have experienced,” Ferguson said. “Our staff goes the extra mile to serve our citizens, and when problems arise, they look for ways to reach resolutions while still respecting the core responsibilities of government.</p><p>“I have learned much from them in my time here, and their excellence will provide Hendersonville's next manager a strong foundation to build on.”</p><p>Ferguson said he's confident the council will find a city manager who represents those values and that Mayor Barbara Volk is currently exploring options for transitioning to Hendersonville's next city manager.</p><p>“Whoever follows Bo Ferguson has got big shoes to fill. The city is going to be at a loss for a while,” Caraker said. “I hope Durham realizes what they're getting because they're getting a star.”</p><p>In Durham, Ferguson will oversee about two-thirds of the city's workforce — 2,200 staff members.</p><p>“Managing Hendersonville has been very challenging and extremely rewarding, but this opportunity will obviously bring a very different set of challenges,” Ferguson said. “That chance to push myself and test my abilities ultimately drew me to accept the position. It will be hard work in a complex urban city; I'm excited, but I'm also heartbroken to leave. There is so much that I will miss about living here and serving as Hendersonville's city manager.” </p><p>Ferguson has 16 years of experience in local government management. Prior to working for Hendersonville, he served as assistant town manager and finance officer for the town of Black Mountain; assistant to the city manager in the city of Rockville, Md.; and senior management analyst with the city of Greenbelt, Md.</p><p>Ferguson will fill the deputy city manager chair left vacant by Theodore Vorhees, who left Durham to serve as city manager of Fayetteville in August.</p><p>Reach Weaver at 828-694-7867 or emily.weaver@blueridgenow.com.</p>